Coalition Against Safety forces budget cuts

Hamilton County Commissioners just wasted the last 2 days looking for budget cuts to extend the Butler County jail contract and close the projected 2008 budget deficit. Background courtesy of The Enquirer Politics Extra blog: Politics Extra: Talking budget cuts in Hamilton County

Why should they cut the budget when all they have to do is raise taxes? These hearings were only necessary because that extremist group Coalition Against Safety put the comprehensive safety plan on the ballot to let all the voters make the decision instead of trust our politicians to do the right thing. As we highlighted before a few days ago, the Si Leis plan would have built a big new jail, paid for all the social programs, and added a ton of money to the general fund. But no, we have to let the voters get their two cents in.

According to The Enquirer they cut programs to extend the Butler County contract for the rest of the year. They also freed up 35 jail spaces per day by no longer housing federal prisoners. These steps wouldn't have been necessary if not for Pat DeWine and the Coalition Against Safety which represents nobody.

Morning Update: They did successfully find the cuts to extend the Butler County contract through the end of the year. Earlier 2 of the Commissioners didn't think they could find the money.